Getting Around Lizhi
Lizhi is a walkable, well-connected neighbourhood in Guangzhou's Liwan District, clustered around Lizhi Bay (Lychee Bay) and Liwan Lake Park. Visitors can reach the area by metro, bus, or ferry, and once there, most of the sights — the old street, the ancestral temple, the antique market, and the lake park — sit close enough together to explore on foot.
Metro
The metro is the simplest way in and out of the district. Several stations serve the Lizhi Bay area, all within a comfortable walk of the old street:
- Changshou Road — the closest station, roughly an eight-minute walk away.
- Zhongshan 8 — about an eleven-minute walk.
- Ruyifang — a longer walk of around seventeen minutes.
Lines 1, 5, and 6 serve the area. Metro service runs from early morning until late at night — near the old street, the first trains leave around 6:10 AM and the last ones around 11:50 PM, so an evening out is easy to manage. Tickets are bought at station machines or gates in the usual way; there is no special pass needed for this area.
Buses
Buses are the most granular option, with stops scattered right at the doorstep of the old street. The nearest stop, City Third Palace, is barely a minute's walk away. Other convenient stops include Pantang Terminal (about two minutes), Pantang (about four minutes), Fengyuan Road (about six minutes), Shiliji (about eight minutes), and Zhongshan 8th Road (about nine minutes).
A wide range of routes passes through, including numbers 2, 8, 15, 25, 55, 61, 66, 74, 104, 105, 107, 109, 128, 133, 196, 204, 226, and 541. Routes 25, 2, 541, 61, 74, 8, and Express Peak 37 are specifically noted as stopping near the site.
Night owls are covered too: Night 39 and Night Route 6 serve the area after dark. Night 39 is effectively the bookend service, running from around 4:31 AM until about 2:36 AM — handy if you're arriving very early or heading home very late. Pay your fare on board as usual; no advance pass is required.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps work throughout the district and are a practical fallback for the last stretch to your hotel, especially late at night or if you're carrying luggage. Because the metro stations sit a short walk from the old street rather than right beside it, a taxi can save you that final leg — just give the driver the name of the street or a nearby landmark such as Panxi Restaurant or Liwan Lake Park East Gate.
Ferry
For a slower, more scenic approach, Ruyifang Pier is served by the S3 Air ferry line. It's a longer walk from the old street — roughly twenty-seven minutes — but the ferry runs from about 6:00 AM until around 10:00 PM, making it a pleasant alternative if you're coming from along the water.
Walking
Walking is genuinely the best way to experience Lizhi. The old street, the bay, the lake park, the ancestral temple, and the antique market all sit within the same compact neighbourhood. The main caveat is that the nearest metro station is a short walk rather than an immediate one, so plan on a few minutes on foot at either end of your metro trip — or use a bus stop, which puts you much closer to the action.
Getting In from the Airport
The source material for this guide does not describe airport connections to Lizhi, so no specific airport route can be given here. As a general approach, take the metro or an airport bus into central Guangzhou and then transfer to Line 1, 5, or 6 for Changshou Road, Zhongshan 8, or Ruyifang — or take a taxi or ride-hailing car directly to your accommodation. Confirm current airport transfer options locally when you arrive.
Practical Tips
- Use City Third Palace or Pantang Terminal bus stops if you want to step off almost at the old street.
- Use Changshou Road metro station for the shortest walk from rail.
- Keep Night 39 in mind for very late or very early travel.
- Consider the S3 Air ferry from Ruyifang Pier if you'd like a waterfront arrival.
- Wear comfortable shoes — the neighbourhood rewards wandering on foot.